Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has confirmed the end of her marriage to former French player Gaël Monfils, saying the emotional impact of the war in her country was a major factor. The 32-year-old, who is ranked sixth in the world, shared the news in a long Instagram post.
In the post, she wrote about the effect of the conflict and what the war had done to her internally. She described the decision as the most difficult thing she had ever had to share, and said she needed to find her way back to herself, which she felt she could not do within the marriage.
Svitolina links the split to the war’s emotional toll
Svitolina said that others had not seen the private struggle behind the decision. She referred to sleepless nights, doubts and a gradual sense of losing herself. She also said some battles take place deep inside a person, and that love from another person cannot win them on their behalf.
She spoke of Odesa, the Black Sea port where she grew up. The city has been heavily bombed by Russia throughout the war, which Russia began with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Monfils praised for listening, daughter placed first
Svitolina said Monfils, 40, had listened to her and respected what she needed. She described it as the hardest thing she had ever told the person she loved.
The couple married in 2021 and have a four-year-old daughter, Skai. Svitolina said her daughter would always come first, adding that the marriage was ending but the family was not.
Monfils’ retirement and move into finance
Monfils, a former world number six who won 13 titles on the ATP Tour, had been expected to play the last tournament of his career at next month’s Paris Masters. His retirement was effectively confirmed last week, when he appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Authority’s list of retired players.
Once a player is removed from anti-doping protocols, they are no longer eligible to compete in professional tournaments. Monfils is now preparing for a new career in finance after joining a Swiss wealth management firm. The couple played mixed doubles together at this year’s US Open, where they reached the semi-finals.
